A Comparative Study of Dose-Action Curves for Visible Eye-Color Mutations Induced by X-Rays, Thermal Neutrons, and Fast Neutrons in Mormoniella vitripennis

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Abstract
Mormoniella virgin females (70449) were treated with a series of doses of X-rays, thermal neutrons, and fast neutrons. They were set unmated and their haploid sons(354439) were examined for bright eye-color mutants. Dose-action curves for production of visible eye-color mutations by each of the three radiations are similar. Each shows an initial linear portion and then a rise more rapid than that calculated for proportionality. It is suggested that the mutations occurring at the lower doses, forming the linear part of the curve, are due to single hits, and that the proportion of two-hit mutations increases rapidly at the higher doses causing the curve to rise steeply. The RBE (relative biological efficiency) for fast neutrons at lower doses was found to be between 17 and 21; at higher doses between 2 and 4. This decreased efficiency at higher doses is to be expected if many of the visible mutations are due to minute rearrangements and deletions.

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